Teen drinking falls but concern over risk takers

The number of schoolchildren drinking alcohol has fallen dramatically over the past 30 years, a large study of NSW students has found.

But experts say the message about the dangerous effects of alcohol on developing brains is not filtering through fast enough, with drinking still extremely common and many young people engaging in seriously risky behaviour.

McCusker Centre for Action on Alcohol and Youth head Mike Daube said a two-tiered drinking culture was developing.

''We have some positive indications about this generation in terms of alcohol and tobacco use, but we should be really worried by this two-tier split, these determined drinkers who are vomiting and drinking to get drunk,'' he said.

Minister for Mental Health and Healthy Lifestyles Kevin Humphries said the survey of nearly 8000 NSW children from government, independent and Catholic schools showed just under half drank alcohol in the past year. This compared to nearly three-quarters of the students surveyed in 1984.

''When it comes to reducing the rate of teenage drinking, we are certainly heading in the right direction,'' said Mr Humphries, who will launch the report on Wednesday.

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''However, many of the statistics contained within this report are nothing short of alarming.''

Of those who drank in the past week, one in 10 drank more than 16 drinks in the one session. One-third of the students, aged between 12 and 17, who drank in the past year had drunk so much they vomited. One in five had got in a car with someone they thought had been drinking.

Michael Thorn, chief executive of the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, said it was very concerning that more than two-thirds of children had drunk alcohol, when the group was not meant to be drinking at all. ''The impacts of alcohol on young people, particularly on their developing brain and their future development of alcohol-use disorder, are significant,'' he said. ''We know that young people who do consume alcohol are more likely to consume alcohol at risky levels.''

The report also shows that the eating patterns of secondary students in NSW appear to be improving, with increases in the proportion who eat enough fruit and vegetables and drops in soft drink consumption.

However, the majority still do not meet the recommended daily intake guidelines.

Chief health officer Kerry Chant said the level of students meeting the physical exercise guidelines - just over one in 10 - had remained stubbornly low.

''Physical activity is a problem across all age groups, and I think that's a reflection that there are a lot of drivers in society towards sedentary behaviour,'' she said. ''It's going to take a lot of effort from everyone.''